Fire in His Bones: A Collection of the Fifty Most Powerful Sermons of David Wilkerson

By David Wilkerson, Gary Wilkerson and Adele Booysen, DMin

A collection of David Wilkerson’s most popular sermons, Fire in His Bones offers a practical theological message of hope and encouragement for all believers.

David Wilkerson’s work as a Christian evangelist and writer has left an indelible mark on the American church and the world. His message of revival encourages American believers to withstand future persecution and trials in even the darkest times. 

Wilkerson’s legacy lives on in the work of World Challenge, an organization that continues to share his message and outreach efforts. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of David Wilkerson’s The Cross and the Switchblade, World Challenge has compiled fifty of his sermons to be released in Fire in His Bones, a spiritual guide for anyone earnestly seeking to experience the fire of God’s power and presence.

Fire in His Bones offers timeless, prophetic lessons for believers in all walks of life—lifelong Christians and non-believers alike—that provide hope for overcoming sin, experiencing new life in the Holy Spirit and receiving fresh revelation from the Lord. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: World Challenge Press
• Release date: Apr 4, 2023
• ISBN: 9781636980089

David Wilkerson

David Wilkerson is a Black American illustrator who was born in Denver, CO and is currently based in Maryland. He believes that there is healing in storytelling, and that it is the job of creatives to contribute to that cause. His career began in the animation industry, working as a character designer, prop designer, and background designer. David developed a love for illustration during his time at the Savannah College of Art and Design. David believes that creation itself is what we live in, and he’s spent the last 20+ years creating the most authentic version of himself as possible.

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Part 1

Prophesy to the Bones

A Collection of Prophetic Messages

Again, [God] said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: ‘Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.’ "

Ezekiel 34:4–6

1

The Vision

My father preached this message in 1973. Much of it has been fulfilled, the rest of it is right at the door. These warnings are to prepare us as a bold, uncompromised, and pure church of Jesus.

~ Gary Wilkerson

God has compelled me to share with you a vision to warn the church of an upcoming persecution of all Spirit-filled believers. For months, I tried to shake it off, but I could not. I have only had two such visions in my life. The first was when God took me to the streets of New York. Every facet of that vision has been fulfilled.

I have been afraid to share this vision for fear that I would be called a fanatic. But the same Holy Ghost that prompted me years ago to share the story of The Cross and Switchblade imparted this vision to be shared with you.

In this vision, I saw five terrible calamities coming to America and the world.

First, I saw a worldwide recession caused by economic confusion. There are only a few more flourishing years followed by an economic recession that will affect the lifestyle of every wage earner in the world. The world’s economists will be unable to explain what is happening. Large and trusted corporations will go bankrupt, as will many churches.

One of the clearest messages I have ever received from God in my life is this: Use the next few good years left to prepare for financial crises. Get your house in order because hard times are coming.

Second, I saw nature having labor pains. There will be supernatural signs and changes that men⁴ will not be able to explain. Some disasters that we are witnessing now are mere labor pains. These will become more frequent and more intense the closer we get to the birth of the Kingdom of God.

I saw major earthquakes coming to the United States. I saw worldwide famine, especially in China, India, and Russia. I saw the world’s food supplies completely dwindle, and millions starving. I saw tornadoes, hailstorms, floods, and hurricanes pound the earth with such intensity and violence that all of mankind will have to admit that the world is under supernatural siege.

Third, I saw a flood of filth and a baptism of dirt in America. I heard God saying that he will pour abominable filth upon America—triple-X rated movies on cable television, R-rated movies on network television. Our newsstands will be flooded with pornographic filth. But then there will be a successful campaign against such smut. The Supreme Court will rule against pornographers, and the nation will return to its former moral standards. But then, the floodgates will swing open and fill the earth with vomit out of hell.

Fourth, I saw rebellion in the home, the greatest problem being youth’s hatred toward their parents. Children will turn against their parents with a passion, and parents will die a thousand deaths at the hands of children who have learned to despise their hypocrisy. Children and their parents will live under the same roof, but it will be like enemies living under a truce. This was the clearest vision I have ever seen in my life.

Fifth, I saw a persecution madness against Spirit-filled Christians who love Jesus Christ.⁵ The Holy Spirit prompted me to share more with you regarding what I saw coming in the way of persecution.

I saw an hour of persecution coming such as mankind has never seen before. This will be a persecution of true believers, and it will rise like a many-headed monster out of the sea. It will start slowly, subtly, coming at a time when religious freedom appears to be at a peak, then it will spread to the entire world.

I saw the formation of a Super World Church Council consisting of a union between liberal ecumenical Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church. They will be joining to create one of the most powerful religious forces on earth. It will start as a cooperative charities program, and it will end in a political union. It will be spiritual in name only.

While this visible Super Church gains political power, the true body of believers will grow tremendously in spiritual power. This power will come from persecution. The persecution will drive these Christians closer together and closer to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will bring together all people of our faith and walks of life.

Next, there will be persecution of charismatic Catholics. Charismatic Catholics will face the most grievous persecution of all. High-level political pressure will be placed on priests to put the fire out. It will begin as a slow trend but will gather momentum and all Catholics in this movement will eventually face persecution from within their church.

I saw persecution through a media struggle. There is at present tremendous freedom for preaching the gospel on radio and television. But watch out. Persecution and harassment are already beginning. The Super Church Council will attempt to establish a kind of screening board and will have the final authority on all religion in the media. No program will be aired without their approval.

I saw Satan trying to bog down these programs and stations in red tape legal proceedings. Satan will use every tactic at his disposal to remove all Christ-centered programs from the media.

There will be persecution coming from Hollywood and from television comedies. These shows will become bolder and bolder and will poke fun at Christ and all true Christians. Comedy writers will strike to put down sacred traditions.

I saw persecution through the taxation of churches. There will be attempts to tax churches and church-related organizations. The Internal Revenue Service will become one of the most powerful weapons against the church.

I saw three distinct ways the devil will try to undermine Christian education. Christian schools and colleges and universities will not escape the coming hour of persecution. They will face political harassment, red tape, acute financial problems, and federal and state aid will come with more and more strings attached.

There will be an almost unexplainable spirit among students of apathy, unrest, and disrespect for leadership. And the faculty will be infiltrated by teachers and professors who will become unwitting tools in the hands of Satan to undermine the foundations of faith and leadership.

I saw the Jesus Revolution going sour. The Jesus Revolution will become a revolting movement. It will stagnate, and undisciplined followers will return to their drugs, their free sex, and their old ways of life. Persecution will separate the sheep from the goats, and only fully surrendered disciples will be left standing when the fog clears.

The time is soon coming when it will no longer be popular to be a Jesus person. A day will come when Bibles will be plucked from believers’ arms and ripped apart by a laughing crowd of mockers. The harassment will eventually become so violent and widespread that young Christians will either harden themselves and stand up and witness against it, or crumble before it and deny their faith. And this is what persecution is all about.

I saw a spiritual awakening coming behind the Iron and Bamboo Curtains. While the free nations are experiencing this wave of persecution, those who had previously lived under religious persecution will enjoy a limited time of freedom.

I saw a gossip war being waged against true believers who refuse to indulge in the freedoms of the new morality. They will be the target of the most vicious, malicious gossip of all time. Their every motive will be questioned, every statement examined. Pastors will face the most malicious gossip of all. There will be innuendos, lies, and false statements floating around that are from the very pit of hell. Not a single true minister of the gospel will be immune to the gossip war, but this war will also be aimed against every true believer.

When I received this vision of calamities, it so frightened me I was just so transfixed before God, and it kept me up night after night. I asked the Lord about all these things. How are we going to do all that we are supposed to do when so many will be forsaking you? Do we turn this whole world over to the devil and just let him have his way? Do we just give up?

How can a Christian remain sane? How can we keep our fortitude? How can we be objective? The Holy Spirit gave me just five little words in response: God has everything under control.

When it looks like nature is out of control, remember that God’s Word clearly predicted it would happen. Child of God, in these days to come, the Holy Spirit would say to you, Do not fear the fury of nature. God is still King of the flood, and you look upon those floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes, and you say to yourself, ‘That is my God talking. He is calling, and he is saying, Get ready." ’

Even the devil is under his control. As with Job, God may permit him to touch everything around you. But you hear it, Satan cannot possess you or rob you of your faith in God. The Bible says, Resist the devil and he will flee from you.⁶ Does that suggest a victorious devil? Never! God has everything under control, and we are under his control. So, we are not afraid of the devil.

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, he encourages him, God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.⁷ No matter how things look in this world, no matter how dire this warning, rest assured all things are still working together to everyone who loves God, called according to his purpose.⁸

No matter what happens, nothing can harm you.

2

The Last-Days Deception

One of the most difficult things for any of us is to see ourselves as we really are—as others see us and as God sees us. We are quick to judge others and slow to judge ourselves, blind to our real spiritual condition. In fact, we hardly know ourselves. And even when God gives us a glimpse into who we are, most of us are not ready to see the truth.

How about you? Are you blind to your spiritual condition, like the Laodiceans in Revelation? They were believing a great lie about themselves, saying, We are rich, increased with goods and have need of nothing.⁹

The Laodiceans had sat under the preaching of the apostle Paul.¹⁰ He had instructed them to humble themselves and to examine themselves. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,¹¹ he had said. This was Paul warning them, Let the Word change you. Let it judge you. Let it convict you so that you do not stand before God deluded one day. But in Revelation, we find out that God did not find them living this way.

The Laodiceans were not the first to have such a twisted view of themselves. We can likewise look at numbers within our churches and believe if we are growing in attendance, we are flourishing. Yet we, like the Laodiceans, are blind to our spiritual condition and how God sees us.

The Lord says of these believers in Laodicea, You do not know it, but you are wretched. You are miserable, you are poor, and you are blind, and you are naked. What a shocking indictment from God himself. You are blind to your spiritual condition. You are not what you claim to be. You are hiding your real feelings. You are not as righteous as you think you are. You are not seeing the truth about yourself.¹²

I believe God can easily say the same of us.

You may have heard truths that were intended by the Holy Ghost to get down into the very root of your problem to change you. But rather than allowing the Spirit to change you, you harden your heart and decide the word is for somebody else.

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans talks about boasting in God knowing his will, being confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?¹³

What a terrible indictment to hear that you are a teacher, lecturing people about their sins yet you have not seen your own heart. You can clearly see all that is wrong with others, yet you fail to see those shortcomings in your life.

Could it be that you are projecting your shortcomings onto others?

The prophet Isaiah tells of a people who plant a tree, water it, and watch it grow. And then they cut down the tree to warm themselves and bake some bread over the fire. From the rest of the wood, they carve a god and worship it.¹⁴

Of them, Isaiah says, They do not know nor understand; for [God] has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand. And no one considers in his heart, nor is there knowledge, nor understanding…¹⁵

Can you imagine you could be so blind to your spiritual condition that you could spend years nurturing a tree only to suddenly chop it down, cook on some of it, and use the leftovers to carve from it a god for yourself? You know what that says? You can be blind and not know it.

There are so many areas you can be blind to and not even see it—gossiping, unhealthy relationships, being prejudiced against people with a different background than yours. And then, being convicted by the Holy Ghost and the Word of God, you break down weeping, confessing before the Lord that you are broken. Because of the grace of God, the Word has found its mark. It has cleansed you.

If, after all this time, God’s Word has not moved you to repentance, you can be sure that there is a hardness in your heart. Everybody can see it. Everybody knows it but you. It will finally come to light when you stand before the judgment of God and he tells you, I know you not.¹⁶

Oh God, help us!

So when there has been a word from the very hand of God—a cleansing word— ask God, Lord, would you give me ears to hear and eyes to see? Melt my heart. Do not let me be hardened. Break in me what needs to be broken; expose in me that which needs to be exposed.

Without such a willingness to be shaped by God, you can grow bitter and not even know it.

James warns us to be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.¹⁷

When the mirror of God’s Word is held before you, do you walk away unchanged? Or do you examine yourself before the Lord and invite God to deal with you, to speak to your heart, and to change you?

Proverbs speaks of being instructed, being willing to learn and to be shaped, in these words, Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.¹⁸

Life depends on being willing to learn, yet how easy it is to let go of this until it is too late. Like the person caught in adultery, who says, How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me.¹⁹

Perhaps you have also wondered at times, Why did I not take heed?

Allow the Word of God to soften your heart so you can do the will of the Father. This is why Jesus warned us, Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name, and done many wonders in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ²⁰

Jesus said there will be many who had done mighty works in his name yet he will not allow them entrance into heaven. But he is also saying, When I speak to you, listen and obey what I ask you to do. If you set your heart to obey, I will give you the strength to do it.

Oh God, search our hearts.

God is merciful. He is kind. But he also means what he says.

God gave me a vision years ago, and it was scary. In fact, I could not have handled it lest God had given me one phrase at the end of the vision. God said, When you preach this, make sure you tell the people, ‘This God has everything under control.’

When I finally preached on the vision it was so heavy. But when I said, God has everything under control, the place came alive. Finally, there was some hope.

But having seen all these things that are coming, that was all I talked about. I got consumed by the message. I became so critical that a dear friend of mine finally stood up and said, David, that is enough! I cannot stand being around you anymore. You have taken all my faith, all my hope. You discourage me!

At first, I was offended. Who did he think he was? I warned him that his business might fail, and he would be glad I had warned him. I was stewing.

When my wife Gwen and I talked about it and I asked her if she heard what my friend had said, she told me, I heard, and he is right.

I went to prayer and God showed me my friend was indeed right. For months, God showed me how arrogant I had gotten. Yes, I have shown you these things, but not to bring despair, God told me. "You have to preach both to warn and to bring in hope."

If you want to know your spiritual condition, ask the Lord to show you where you have been deceived. God will speak to you. When the mirror of God’s Word is held before you, you may be surprised—even shocked—at what God shows you. But if you soften your heart and listen, you will walk away a changed person. From there, walk not in your own strength, but with God.

3

A Fire in My Bones

God had given Jeremiah a harsh message for Jerusalem, warning of the city’s destruction.²¹ When Pashur—the governor of the chief priests at that time—heard Jeremiah prophesying about the destruction of the city, he was incensed. Pashur sent for Jeremiah and had him put in stocks²² right at the gate of the temple where everybody could see his humiliation for a full twenty-four hours.

God had spoken to Jeremiah, clearly giving him the message for Jerusalem, yet here he was locked up, humiliated, and in pain.

Agonized, Jeremiah cried out to God, Lord, you deceived me, and I was deceived!²³ He goes on to complain that he has become a public joke, that he hears people whispering to denounce him as a prophet. Jeremiah wishes to no longer speak of God’s message nor to mention God’s name. Nevertheless, he knows he cannot do that as God’s Word is like a fire in his bones, and he is tired of trying to hold in that fire.²⁴

Here was a man who could not doubt he was called. God had spoken to him very clearly. Even from before birth, Jeremiah had been ordained to be a prophet to the nations. God had told Jeremiah that he knew him even before the earth was created. God had a plan for his life and had sanctified Jeremiah in his mother’s womb, creating him to preach the gospel.²⁵

Even so, Jeremiah objected that he was too young. God responded telling Jeremiah not to say he was not worthy to do the work for which he had been created. For you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak, God told Jeremiah, adding, Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you.

And with that, God reached out, touched Jeremiah’s mouth, and said, I have put my words in your mouth.²⁶

God had given Jeremiah specific orders. He had given Jeremiah his heart so he could speak God’s words. And this man was totally obedient to the call of God.

The Lord told Jeremiah, Gird up your loins, rise up, speak to the people all that I command you. Do not be afraid of any man’s face. Do not be afraid of anything that man can do. Do not be dismayed by them lest I dismay you before them.²⁷

Again and again, God’s message to Jeremiah is straightforward.

Gird up your loins. God is essentially saying, "I have called you from the womb.²⁸ I have given you a word, and I have made you a promise. I will be with you."²⁹

Do not be afraid. As long as you live, I am with you. No demon can touch you, no enemy can touch you, nobody can prevail against you. So, rise up, and in faith do as I have commanded you.

Do not be afraid. Do not worry about anything that man can do. Do not pay attention to their frowns or their smiles. Do not think about flattery; do not think about anything but one divine purpose—to speak my mind.

Speak what I tell you to speak. I am with you now as you speak my words, as you obey me and give me your confidence and your trust. I will never put you to shame. I will be with you everywhere you go and everything you do.

I will give you the words when it is needed. Throw down idolatry, build up the believers. But if you are not going to trust what I told you, if you are not going to take me at my word, if you are not going to believe that I am with you, if you do not believe I am faithful, if you will live in doubt and fear, I will have to let your flame go out. I will have to let you be dismayed.

Still, I will defend you. I have made you an impregnable city with iron pillars and brass walls against society, against kings and priests, and against all the people. They shall fight against you but not overcome you, for I am with you.

This not only is God’s message to Jeremiah. It is God’s message to every believer. I am with you. I have made you a defended city. There are pillars holding up the walls, and there are brass walls around you. Be not afraid.³⁰

Every follower of Christ has a mandate from God. We are to speak the words God lays on our hearts, on our lips. Speak God’s words on the job, speak it in the home, speak it wherever you go.

God will give you the words to speak. If you are praying at home and on your face before God, by the time you go out in public God will have already given you his words to speak. In your times before the Lord, God will plant his words in your soul so they can bear fruit in your conversations, if only you tune your heart to his.

Jeremiah reached a low point in his ministry the night Pashur had him put in stocks, though. Here was a godly man, a caring man, yet he was tortured. So, Jeremiah complained to the Lord saying, You have deceived me, and I was deceived. You are stronger than I am, and you have prevailed. I’m in derision daily and everyone mocks me.³¹

The word deceived here means seduced. What this prophet is saying cannot be sugarcoated. He is saying, God, you called me. You anointed me. You said I was called from my mother’s womb. I do not understand this kind of pain and mockery and derision that I am going through now. You never told me about this!

In other words, Jeremiah is saying God has opened him up to derision, to being exposed. Angry, Jeremiah declares, God, I do not understand. You have opened me up to mockery, and I have ended up a failure! I am nothing but a foolish, humiliated man.

Perhaps you

Reviews for Fire in His Bones

[Guillermo Robles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Uno de los libros mas hermosos que he leido atraves de las decadas. se lo recomiendo a todo aquel que entiende ingles y pueda traducirlo al espanol.